Hi all, after much thought and research I've decided to switch over to the original 1972 Atkins diet, at least until the end of the month (~5 weeks) and see where it takes me.

Background: I'm currently on 12th day of Induction (1992 DANDR version). I haven't cheated once, and have dropped 6 pounds so far. That's cool and all, but knowing that most of that is water weight, I feel kind of deflated.

Three main reasons I'm doing this:
1) So much effort, time and money is going into this, that I want to see real results faster, I want that "whoosh". I've heard all the stuff about how slower weight loss is better, blah blah, but I also know first-hand that there's no incentive for keeping at it than seeing those first pounds come off quickly (Dr. Atkins said it himself, but more eloquently).
2) Instinctively, I know my body is extra-resistant to carbs, even vegetables, so I believe I'm at a disadvantage and this is a better beginning point for me.
3) This version is the strictest in terms of avoiding "hidden sugars" (examples: sausage, cold cuts, etc, which I don't think are helping me).

I'm 26 years old, never lost my "baby weight" (son is now 4 1/2). My stats are 5'3 " and current weight = 187 pounds.

My goal weight is 150 pounds. I'd like to lose 20 lbs. (of the 37 I have to lose) before September.

I'm currently in ketosis, and starting today will follow the 1972 "First Week" rules till further notice. I'll update my progress every day here. If anyone wants to join me, more than welcome!

Drank 8 glasses of water and took multivitamin. (I haven't had any health issues on Atkins so far, should mention).

NOTES:
1) The salami slices were obviously before I took the decision to go on this plan! Those are off-limits from now on.
2) I'm not obsessively counting calories (had enough of that in high school), but do want to stay under 1,500/day as much as possible. I'm really short and lazy about exercising, so going over that probably not a good idea.
3) We count total carbs, not net, on 1972 Atkins.
4) LESSON LEARNED: I've been doing a really crappy job of calculating amounts thus far, I realized today. My notion of "1 cup" of vegetables was like 2.5!! Using a measuring cup for everything from now on.

NOTES:
1) I made the mistake of eating a few jalapeno slices last night and was sick to my stomach this morning. I could only bear having some chicken-vegetable soup. Technically on Week 1 of 1972 Atkins I should only be having "revolution salad" as vegetables, and I had about a cup of squash/chayote. After thinking about this decided I'll still restrict veggies much more than DANDR, but expand repertoire
2) I feel like I've suddenly lost weight, but decided not to weigh myself until Sunday (5 days from now).

NOTES: I've now been on Atkins for 15 total days -- and 4 days 1972ish, keeping calorie intake under 1,500/day and controlling vegetable intake. I'm really frustrated today, because after days of feeling skinny today my stomach is all pouchy -- and I haven't bloated since I started. If it keeps up, going straight back to Induction (and hardcore). I don't think I'm doing a stellar job these last 2 days...yesterday I ate 3g carb Italian sausage, today I had a diet soda and both days, 2 sticks of sugarless gum. I also should be eating less allowed veggies IMO, but I love them so it's tough!

The good news: for the first time doing Atkins, this is starting to feel like a normal, (pretty ) easily sustainable lifestyle. That is so powerful.

"The good news: for the first time doing Atkins, this is starting to feel like a normal, (pretty ) easily sustainable lifestyle. That is so powerful."

I couldn't agree more - very well said! It feels great to be on this plan, and it's not very hard to manage. I can't even imagine going back to eating tons of carbs! I hope you continue to feel bood and enjoy it.

I think you're doing great! I certainly have days where I feel a little bloaty. Maybe cutting back on veggies will help, as you say. I think I will take your cue and cut back on mine too. Sometimes they are hard to resist tho!

I went off-diet for a WEEK. On Friday I gave into cheating urges, and then the weekend happened, and then an incredibly stressful work week where I couldn't allocate any brain cells to getting back on track. All very lame excuses. I've felt miserable physically (bloated, GI track issues, de-energized) and so guilty that I couldn't even enjoy the carb-y food.

In an odd way, even though I feel really bad about derailing my weightloss efforts for a week (plus the 2-3 days it'll take to get back into ketosis), I feel happy that I can recognize that I feel *so* much better on a low-carb plan and that I'm not giving up (for once!).

"The good news: for the first time doing Atkins, this is starting to feel like a normal, (pretty ) easily sustainable lifestyle. That is so powerful."

I couldn't agree more - very well said! It feels great to be on this plan, and it's not very hard to manage. I can't even imagine going back to eating tons of carbs! I hope you continue to feel bood and enjoy it.

I think you're doing great! I certainly have days where I feel a little bloaty. Maybe cutting back on veggies will help, as you say. I think I will take your cue and cut back on mine too. Sometimes they are hard to resist tho!

Poppies -- thanks for your words...unfortunately I weakly gave into cheating impulses and have now set myself back 10 days But the important thing is that I'm back, have stocked my kitchen full of lc foods and not disappearing from the forums. I guess.

Right now, as you can see, I'm not that fussed about counting calories, restricting veggies and so on right now. What I really care about is eating moderate protein/lots of fat, and detoxing from carb binging as painlessly as possible.

There's a scary amount of views of this thread, and I think at this point I have some explaining about why this is in the 1972 forum. I am obviously not following the Atkins 1972 version religiously (I'm too much of a vegetable addict, and I'm counting net carbs instead of total). What I do have in common with that plan, and why I think I lean more to the 1972 side than any other Atkins version:
1) Veggies/cheese/nuts/HWC aren't a free-for-all. In later versions of Atkins, I really believe that the variety and amount allowed of these foods is inflated to appeal to skeptical health professionals/mainstream dieters dismayed by the idea of steak and eggs alone
2) No LC "junk", and by that I include imitation home-cooked recipes. I would rather be fully aware and accepting that I am in fact eating a protein with a small salad or serving of legal vegetables, not cauliflower-crust "pizza". This is also driven in part by the fact that I live in a 3rd world country where the notion of "low-fat" diets has barely permeated. We're light years away from any sort of awareness of low-carb, and therefore almost zero special LC products are available.

And that's it. These are deeply personal views that are built out of my own experience. I don't apply these notions or parameters to anyone else!

Feeling better and better, and mostly appetite-less during the day. I'm doing most of my eating at night, which I think is cool because I'm probably going to end up experimenting with IF at some point (yes, already thinking ahead to "tweaks").

Great progress! Keep it up! When I hit 213 (from a high of 330), my husband commented that my hip felt 'bony' when I was lying down...and I had knees and knee 'pits' (as my 5 year old used to call them).

Great progress! Keep it up! When I hit 213 (from a high of 330), my husband commented that my hip felt 'bony' when I was lying down...and I had knees and knee 'pits' (as my 5 year old used to call them).

it!!

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Phoebe

One of the very few things we have complete control over is what we put in our mouths. Unless someone hogs us down, pries open our jaws and force feeds us, we have total and complete control of our eating.

Went off-plan yesterday...just felt like having a date with my husband without making a ton of menu substitutions or interrogating the waiter. I wasn't feeling out of control or even tempted, it's hard to explain -- just didn't want to be a "weird" dining companion for once, even though he's never asked me not to be. It's not good, but happy because I automatically just came right back to LC without "making myself". LC is definitely my new normal, carbs are infrequent treat days. But do want to go an entire 3 weeks without cheating from now on, b/c definitely sabotaging short-term weightloss.

As always after having carbs, unusually snacky. Pork skins and move on (getting that tatto'ed one of these days).

One of the very few things we have complete control over is what we put in our mouths. Unless someone hogs us down, pries open our jaws and force feeds us, we have total and complete control of our eating.

Feel really small these days. But still so snack-y after my carb day on Sunday.

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Phoebe

One of the very few things we have complete control over is what we put in our mouths. Unless someone hogs us down, pries open our jaws and force feeds us, we have total and complete control of our eating.

In short, went above 20 net carbs today, which is rare for me. Adds up to about 22.

Tomorrow's goal: high fat and very low carb.

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Phoebe

One of the very few things we have complete control over is what we put in our mouths. Unless someone hogs us down, pries open our jaws and force feeds us, we have total and complete control of our eating.

Olive, I really appreciate your posts here. I'm fascinated by your comment about why you are not doing "fake" foods:

Quote:

imitation home-cooked recipes. I would rather be fully aware and accepting that I am in fact eating a protein with a small salad or serving of legal vegetables, not cauliflower-crust "pizza".

that's very interesting point. Maybe it's easier psychologically to fully give up the things you can't have, rather than trying to find workarounds to get them back. Interesting. having said that, some of those imitation recipes are awfully good. But I appreciate what you are saying here. I am starting to think I would be happier just eating bacon and eggs every morning, and a steak every night, no frills, no trying new recipes, no worrying about missing something

Olive, I really appreciate your posts here. I'm fascinated by your comment about why you are not doing "fake" foods:

that's very interesting point. Maybe it's easier psychologically to fully give up the things you can't have, rather than trying to find workarounds to get them back. Interesting. having said that, some of those imitation recipes are awfully good. But I appreciate what you are saying here. I am starting to think I would be happier just eating bacon and eggs every morning, and a steak every night, no frills, no trying new recipes, no worrying about missing something

My one exception to the "imitation" stuff is cauliflower rice. OMG that stuff is so good.

But yeah, you won't see me making messes with almond flour and flax trying to recreate "dumplings" or something. Just not worth it. Would rather accept that I'm eating what I'm eating and then eat sinful, real versions of carbs on cheat days (which hoping will be fewer and farther between from now on).

I so appreciate your posts, too. We're all alone in here

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Phoebe

One of the very few things we have complete control over is what we put in our mouths. Unless someone hogs us down, pries open our jaws and force feeds us, we have total and complete control of our eating.